Every child develops at their own pace, and it’s normal for parents to have questions along the way. Pediatric occupational therapy may be helpful if your child is experiencing challenges with feeding (such as trouble latching, bottle refusal, transitioning to solids, or picky eating), movement, regulation, or reaching developmental milestones—or if something simply doesn’t feel quite right to you as a caregiver. If you have concerns, questions, or feel your child could use extra support, early guidance can make a meaningful difference.

Developmental milestones are skills babies begin to develop as they grow, including how they move, feed, communicate, and interact with their environment. These milestones serve as general guidelines and every baby develops at their own pace. Below is a brief overview of developmental milestones during the first year of life: 0–3 months Lifts and turns head during tummy time Brings hands to mouth Begins to visually track faces and objects Shows interest in feeding and caregiver interaction 4–6 months Improved head and trunk control Rolls from tummy to back or back to tummy Reaches for and grasps toys Brings objects to mouth Increased engagement, smiling, and vocalizing 7–9 months Sits independently Begins transitioning between positions (rolling, sitting, hands-and-knees) Explores food textures and feeding skills Develops stronger coordination and curiosity through play 10–12 months Crawls, pulls to stand, or begins cruising Uses hands with more precision (transferring objects, pincer grasp) Increased oral motor control for feeding Engages in purposeful play and social interaction If your baby seems uncomfortable in certain positions, favors one side of their body, struggles with feeding, has difficulty reaching milestones, or if something simply doesn’t feel quite right, pediatric occupational therapy can help.

Pediatric occupational therapy supports babies and children in developing the skills they need to participate in everyday life, such as feeding, moving, and playing. For infants, this often includes support with early motor development, oral motor skills, feeding challenges, sensory regulation, and reaching developmental milestones.

We offer in-home sessions throughout Ventura County and it's surrounding areas, bringing care directly to you. Supporting your baby in their natural environment allows for baby to feel safe, while giving parents the ease and comfort of staying home during this precious (and often busy) time!

Sessions are typically 60 minutes, allowing plenty of time for thorough assessment, hands-on support, and meaningful caregiver education.

At this time, we do not accept insurance. We are happy to provide a superbill upon request for families who wish to seek out-of-network reimbursement.

Yes! Occupational Therapy can play an important role in supporting babies with oral ties, whether or not a release procedure is being considered. While OT does not diagnose or treat the tie itself, we evaluate how your baby's oral motor skills, feeding patterns, body tension, sensory regulation, and overall development may be affected. Many babies with oral ties develop compensatory movement patterns, difficulty coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing, inefficient milk transfer, fatigue during feeds, reflux-like symptoms, or body tension that impacts feeding success. Through a comprehensive assessment, we look beyond the mouth to understand how your baby's entire body is functioning. Treatment may include oral motor exercises, improving tongue and jaw function, reducing body tension, optimizing positioning, supporting sensory regulation, and helping caregivers better understand their baby's feeding cues and needs. OT can be beneficial before a release procedure to help prepare your baby's oral motor skills, as well as after a release to support healing, integration of new movement patterns, and improved feeding function. Every baby is unique, and not all feeding challenges are caused solely by oral ties. Our goal is to identify the underlying factors contributing to feeding difficulties and create an individualized plan that supports both baby and family.